why would you not list the basic 1176 and copys and the LA2A and copy versions?
the Behringer/ KlarkT 1176 gets a lot of good reviews and its only like $500. excuse...me ...499.99 ..
the 430 is a channel strip with a comp ..the GAP LA3a and 2A look fun.
i agree with the preamp not hearing it...after I tried a bunch of preamps the compressor was what gave it the sound I was looking for. preamps were interesting a bit but when you start cranking up a LA2A its like wow, or some compressors were like cool! mud blob sound!....or the almost invisible compressor that you can see on the daw waveform but not with my ears?.
i go around in circles on this, so if you get a good solid preamp, you can do all the compressing ITB for a lot less, some interfaces allow realtime with good plugs like the Apollo etc..UA units...but it seems the hardware is more clear in my setup, which isnt saying much.
off the top of my head Ive had a
RNC almost invisible
Symetrix invisible
ART TPS, LA610mk2 (LA2A plugin) tubish compression..I think silky smooth, Beatles RubberSoul/Revolver
MikeE El9 solid/discrete based on 1176, very nice, maybe a bit more dirt, great. Nirvana, Offspring, more modern dist-bite...
Lindell 1176 copy x15 or something...I didnt crank it so it was kind of invisible, but my first 1176 copy.
They can all do some clean low ratio invisible stuff but seems some can get interesting when its smashed up.
Adele raw tracks were done on a 6176 on the big album and they doctored it in DAW but the raw tracks were good enough, which I thought was interesting. Rode mic > 6176.....platinum largest seller billboard 200 all time stuff.
its like the mic + channel strip...is like the electric guitar + amp....they have to be one. but even then you have guitar pickups, rooms, fingers and players...the source...yadayadayada
isnt the most common tried and true the Neve1073 style preamp + 1176 a good start?
or a LA(2A)610 for the more polished stuff..??
then match the voice with mic and all that.
ELOP, TUBE TECH , SUMMIT, UA6176, LA610, Emperical Labs thats all pro-gear imo...$$$$$$
what tiny bit Ive tasted of it is worth the money for a serious player and really is $1500 or $1900 that much?
you get the pre....you get the compressor....you get the box and phantom, and often a DI too!
divide by 3 and its $500 each.
hard decision though to choose one.
like LA2A family or 1176 type?
like Fender Strat or Gibson Les Paul hard to choose just one.